Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,401

I kiss her cheek, and we both pick at our food, neither of us has an appetite. I increase my effort, just so I can try to convince her to do the same.

We finish picking at our plates when Aiden’s parents come in to tell us goodnight. They offer for all four of us to sleep at their place tonight. Allison thanks them, but says that she wants to stay here tonight. I’m going to be where she is, no matter where that happens to be.

Aiden and Hailey stick around until about eleven. They both offer to stay the night, and Aiden offers his house again, Allison declines. I don’t bother to respond, they both know I am with her, no matter where she chooses to sleep.

Chapter 35

Allison

Aiden and Hailey leave to go to Aiden’s for the night, which leaves Liam and I all alone in Gran’s house. I suddenly realize maybe Liam doesn’t want to stay here. “Liam, you can stay at Aiden’s if you would rather.”

“Nope, wherever you are is where I want to be,” he says as he kisses my forehead.

“Thank you.” I take a deep breath. “I guess I need to look through the paperwork Judy left,” I say, pointing to the stack on the table.

“We don’t have to do that tonight, babe. We can just leave it all for tomorrow and try to get some rest tonight.”

“I don’t think I could sleep now, even if I wanted to. Will you go through it with me?” I ask him. I know I’m leaning on him for pretty much everything, but he calms me.

“Anything you need,” he tells me. He’s being so amazing through all of this. I sit down on the floor between Liam’s legs and begin sifting through the stack of papers. There’s a copy of Gran’s will, which outlines that she has already planned and paid for her funeral, when the time come. She’s to be buried in the same cemetery as my parents and grandpa. The house and all of her remaining assets are left to me. The house is paid for, so there’s no mortgage to worry about.

“This gives you time to go through her belongings and decide what you want to do with the house and everything else without the pressure of a mortgage.” Liam’s trying his hardest to help me stay sane. I love him.

The stack also contains the deed to the house, as well as all her banking information she had already listed me on so there would be no issues with having it tied up in probate court. There’s an addendum in the will explaining where I can find documents such as my parents’ marriage license, birth certificates, etc. Gran had apparently kept all of it when we sold the house after they died, just in case I would want it someday. Tears prick my eyes, I miss her so much already, and it hasn’t even been a day.

Liam’s gently massaging my shoulders while I work my way through the stack of documents. Occasionally, he’ll lean down and kiss the top of my head. I don’t even want to think about how this day would have been without him here. I suddenly realize I forgot to congratulate him on his win today. I look over my shoulder at him. “Congrats on your win. I’m sorry I forgot to tell you.”

“Hey,” he says, moving all my hair from one shoulder to the other. “You have nothing to be sorry for.” He leans down and kisses my cheek. I smile weakly and turn back to the task of sifting through the mound of paperwork. Really, it isn’t a mound, just a small stack, but the heaviness it brings to my heart makes it look like a damn mountain.

I’ve finally worked my way to the bottom of the stack and find an envelope with my name written on it. I suck in a breath and feel the tears start to slide down my cheeks. Liam puts his hands under my arms and lifts me onto his lap and engulfs me in a hug. A hug so loving and full of emotion, one that only Liam can give. “You don’t have to read it now.”

Logically, I know he’s right, I can put it aside and call it a night. However, my heart knows these are her final words to me, and even though I know it’s going to shatter my heart, I want to read it. I want to know what she